Lagos – Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, the Director-General, (D-G), Centre for Blacks and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), has advised Nigerian journalists to always write reports that will positively project the country’s corporate image both within and outside its shores.
The D-G made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Lagos office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
He said that some reports written by some Nigerian reporters on Nigeria in local and international media were usually very degrading and done in bad light.
“They did not positively promote the corporate image of the country and this should not be,’’ he said.
He said that journalists from other countries usually protected their home countries by writing positive reports about them for both their home based and foreign media organisations.
“When we travel to other countries, we read stories in their newspapers presenting positive values about such countries.
“They do not degrade or demean their leaders and policies embarked upon by their home governments.
“That is the type of reports that Nigerian journalists should be writing about our country and government,’’ Anikwe said.
According to him, when foreign investors want to invest in Nigeria, they will use such positive reports as part of the reasons for choosing Nigeria among other competing countries.
The CBAAC D-G said that other countries always rated Nigeria high because of the qualities of people that had represented the countries at international conferences, meetings and peace missions abroad.
“So, for Nigerian patriotism to follow the right track, our journalists must play their cardinal and fundamental roles of positively promoting it before the international community.
“Most African countries looked up to Nigeria for policy formulation and implementation and the country must continue to play its leading role by dictating the pace in Africa.
“God has given Nigeria the role of setting agenda for the continent and Nigeria must continue to play that role in all its ramifications,’’ he said.
Anikwe also called on the relevant regulatory agencies, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), to always ensure that media houses write reports that were positive about the country.
They should be involved in close monitoring and moderation of stories and reports emanating from media houses about the country, he said.
Mr Dele Bodunde, Director and Managing Editor/ Head of Editorial Service received the CBAAC D-G and his team on behalf of NAN, Lagos management.
Bodunde said that NAN was leading in disseminating factual and timely reports about Nigeria, Africa and the world.
He said that the agency, with its various platforms, was ready to partner CBAAC to promote its activities since both organisations were agents of change in line with the policy direction of the present administration.
Our collaboration would assist the administration to achieve its set objective, he said.
Bodunde said that NAN had correspondents all over the country and outside with the purpose of covering events which were always sent to its clients for pittance.
“The events covered by the agency’s correspondents always had a wide mileage which no other newspapers could achieve.
“So, it is talk to NAN and talk to all’’, he said.
The director said that the agency would continue to look forward to a more cordial working relationship between CBAAC and NAN.
Other management staff who accompanied the director to receive the CBAAC team at the meeting are: Mr Tony Nezianya ( Director and Managing Editor),Mr Obakhedo Idonije,(Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Metro) and Mr Silas Nwoha ( Assistant Editor-in –Chief of Science and Technology.
The CBAAC team include: Dr Ferdinand Anikwe (DG), Dr Gloria Chuma-Ibe (Director-in-charge of Museum and Education),Mrs Ndidi Aimienwawu,(Director, Documentation Service), Mrs Osaro Osayande (Director, Information Management).
Others were: Mrs Okonmah Agatha, (Assist. Director : Stores), Mrs Moni Ogunowo (Assist. Director; Archives’ Services), among others. (NAN)